By John Merwin

Speaking of winter projects, have you ever considered building your own boat? I thought about that for a long time, researching boat plans on the Internet and measuring my basement door to see if what I might build would fit through it.

My wife was terrified, wondering if some huge project would linger for years unfinished. Then I got lucky and found the home-made skiff shown here. The guy who made it in his garage soon decided he wanted a bigger boat. So I was able to buy this boat very inexpensively (partly because the resale value of owner-built boats is typically very low).

By John Merwin

Mostly I hate jet skis, those fast and noisy personal watercraft often driven by obnoxious kids whose idea of a good time is harassing fishermen or generally tearing up a quiet lake. When I was in my late teens I might actually have enjoyed using one if they had existed back then. But not now.

By John Merwin

This is not a report from the SHOT show. That’s because as Field & Stream’s fishing columnist, I only do “wet” work and am therefore not thrown into the claustrophobic madness of a trade show devoted to hunting and firearms. So don’t pay the ransom. I’ve escaped. Meanwhile, and on the angling side, I just encountered this video of what appears to be a small heron actually fishing with bait. A little green heron, perhaps? Maybe some birders out there can help with identification.

By Joe Cermele

If you stop and think about it, many common American angling practices have been borrowed from other countries. Fly fishing has its origin in England. Many lures for muskie were copied from designs used by European pike anglers. Some of the most universal marlin tactics were derived from Australian methods. But now I say it's time we adopt the South Korean ice fishing strategy.

To be honest, I didn't even know it got cold enough to freeze massive bodies of water in South Korea. Not only was I mistaken, but people flock to the annual South Korean Ice Fishing Festival in numbers greater than Minnesota's Eelpout Festival.